Ratchet lock for record binders



Oct. 17. 1933. E. M. ALLEN, JR y1,930,705

H'ATCHET LOCK FOR RECORD BINDERS Filed April 29, 1932 zu; i

@@Mfw @E Patented Oct. 17, 1933 naires srs'rss rrsgr gris The Marshall tBruce Company, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of rifennesseeApplication April 29, 1932.

Serial No. 608,163

e claims. (o1. 12s-is) This invention relates to a ratchet lock forrecord binders.

In record binders oi that type involving expansiole contractible sidemembers, some are usually provided 'for quickly locking the in anyadjusted position.

rfhis invention concerns itself primarily with novel means for quicklyand automatically locking the two parts of the binder in any adjustedl:tion and which means may be quickly red for unlocking the binder. ieinvention comprises the novel structure combination oi parts hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appendedclaims.

in the accompanying drawing which illustrates rerred form of thisinvention and in which en reference numerals refer to similar feaes inthediierent views:

ure 1 is a iragmentary interior plan view a loose-leaf binder involvingthis invention.

2 is a fragmentary interior plan view with a portion cut away at the endto illustrate the locking mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line lll-lil oi Figure 1looking in the direction or" the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon lin-e lV-IV of Figure1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

n n 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional en upon the line VV of Figure1 lookin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line Jl-VI ofFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

in referring to the drawing which illustrates a pre erred embodiment oithis invention, there is illustrated only certain parts of the binderwhich are deemed necessary to explain this inention The rear portion ofthe binder comprises a pair of angular members which slide over eachother during the adjustment of the binder. The angular member upon oneside of the binder is designated by the reference numeral 1 and consistsof a vertical portion and a horizontal portion 2. The other side of thebinder comprises a vertical portion 3 which terminates in a horizontalportion 4 which is superposed upon the portion or iiange 2 for relativesliding movement with respect thereto.

The vertical portions 1 and 3 carry post holding bars 5 which areremovably attached by means of screws 5a as shown in Figure 1. The bars5 carry telescopic posts consisting of the ywhich is tubular portions 6and the inner cylindrical portions 7 as shown in Figure 3.

The hangs 2 is bent upwardly and 'inwardly at each end to provideoverlapping portion 2a as shown in Figures 4 to 6. The plate 4 60 triedkby 'the vertical ange 3 is out away at each end as shown in Figure 2and the main portion ci the out edge is provided with ratchet teeth 3 asshown in Figure 2. A pawl 9 is located beneath the inturned ilange 2a.65 in the space defined by the out away portion of plate 4. Withreference to Figure 2, it will be noted that this pawl 3 is relativelylong and is pivoted at one end to the plate 2as indicated at 10.

The other end or" the pawl 9 is provided with 70 ratchet teeth l1 whichare adapted for engaging the teeth 3. A spring 12 secured to theipawl 9normally bears against the plate 2 ior normally maintaining the pawl inengagement with the ratchet teeth 8.

A slide 13 is positioned at each end` of the binder upon the inturnediiange 2a. Each slide has an upwardly extending ringer portion 14whereby the same may be readily grasped by the operator. The slide 13 isalso provided with a 80 guide slot l5 for receiving a guide pivot 16 eX-tending upwardly from the inturned iiange 2a. Each slide 13 is alsoprovided with a cam slot 17 which is provided with an inclined edge 18and each pavJl 9 is provided with a pin 19 at S5 each head thereof forprojecting through the cam slot 1'7 of its respective slide 13.

in the position oi the parte as shown in Figure l, the pawl 9 is inlocking engagement with the ratchet 8 and it will be noted that in this9o position the pin 13 upon each pawl is located in the bottom of thecani slot 17. To unlock the pawls 9 from engagement with the ratchetteeth 8, the slides 13 are moved toward the left. During such movementoi the slides 13, the inclined edges 18 or cam portions of said slotsYwill move the pins 19 outwardly and disengage the pawls 9 from the plate4 in order to allow the two sides of the binder to be expanded orcontracted. After the binder has` been properly v adjusted, the plates13 are slid backwardly to the position shown in Figure 1 for allowingsprings 12 to engage the pawls 9 with the plate 4.

Between the head oi one pawl 9 and the casing there is shown a permanentlocking member A10b' 20 which may be in the form of a pin, bolt or thelike. The casing is provided with an aperture 21 adjacent each pawl iorthe insertion of such pin. It will be understood that during the normaluse of the binder such pins 2i) are not 11.0

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present. They are intended to be inserted after the binder has beeniilled and is to be stored away at which time it is desirable topermanently loci; the saine. When the binder is to be stored away,suitable pins 20 may be inserted in the apertures 2l and behind theheads oi the 9 and broken off iiush with the casing so they cannot beeasily removed for permanently locking the pawls 9 and therebypermanently locking the binder.

It will readily loe appreciated that the two slides 13 may be easily andquiclly operated to release the pawls 9 from their looking engagementwith the plate 4 and for holding the same in disengaged position whilethe binder is e'X- panded or contracted. By thuswise positivelymaintaining the pawls in inoperative position it is a very simple andeasy mattei' to adjust the binder since it is impossible for the paWlsto positively move into locking engagement With the plate 4l, when theslides are in their unlocking position.

am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a Wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and l, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

claim as my invention:

l. In a binder having a pair of relatively slidaole hack plates, one ofsaid plates having ratchet teeth upon one edge, a pavvl rpivoted at oneend tothe other plate and having ratchet teeth at its other end forengagement With said ratchet teeth on said afore- .entioned plate, alido supported over said pawl, said slide having a cani slot and saidpai/vl having a pin extending into said cam slot whereby the actuationoi said slide will operate said pawl.

2. in a loose leaf binder having relatively slidahle basl; plates, oneof said plates being shorter than the other and having ratchet teethupon one edge, a pavvl pivoted upon the other plate for engaging saidratchet teeth, a slide, and means for mounting said slide above saidpawl, said slide having a cam slot and said paWl having a pin extendinginto said slot for the purpose set forth.

3. In a binder having shiftable back plates, one of said plates havinginturned ends overlapping the other plate, a pawl upon said rstmentioned plate for locking engagement with the other plate, a slidemounted upon one inturned end and means for connecting said pawl andslide for the purpose set forth.

ll. In a loose-leaf binder having a pair of relatively vslidable baci;plates in superposed relation, one of said plates having ratchet teethupon its opposed ends, paivls mounted upon the other plate for engagingsaid ratchet teeth, pawl actuating slides and means for .supporting oneslide over each paWL said pawls and slides having cooperating means foroperating the paWls during the shifting of said slides.

5. In a loose leaf .hinder having shiitable back plates, one of saidplates having ratchet teeth upon one end, a pat/1 pivoted to the otherplate engaging said ratchet teeth, said last mentioned plate having anupturnedv end and means Ween said pawl and uptur ed end for loclz-

